The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire [Hardcover]

C. M. Mayo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2009

The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire is a sweeping historical novel of Mexico during the short, tragic, at times surreal, reign of Emperor Maximilian and his court. Even as the American Civil War raged north of the border, a clique of Mexican conservative exiles and clergy convinced Louis Napoleon to invade Mexico and install the Archduke of Austria, Maximilian von Habsburg, as Emperor. A year later, the childless Maximilian took custody of the two year old, half-American, Prince Agustín de Iturbide y Green, making the toddler the Heir Presumptive. Maximilian s reluctance to return the child to his distraught parents, even as his empire began to fall, and the Empress Carlota descended into madness, ignited an international scandal. This lush, grand read is based on the true story and illuminates both the cultural roots of Mexico and the political development of the Americas. But it is made all the more captivating by the depth of Mayo s writing and her understanding of the pressures and influences on these all too human players. Her prose makes the reader taste the foods, smell the spices and flowers and feel the heat of Mexico. Mayo writes for the senses. And for the ages. The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire is a story both sweeping and intimate, of geopolitics, the glamour of royalty, and the grit of military command, of the arrogance of power, the dark labyrinths of ambition, and, above all, of a child who was not, in the end, a prince, but a little boy who belonged to his parents.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Epic in scope, Mayo's impressively researched novel set in mid-19th century Mexico City mines the true story of the short turbulent reign of the archduke of Austria, Maximilian von Hapsburg, who was made emperor of Mexico in 1864. Childless and desperate for an heir, the emperor makes substantial monetary promises to the parents of a young boy named Agustin. With much trepidation, they agree to give over the boy, who becomes a pawn in a custody battle that begins when Maximilian adopts the two-year-old Agustin with the hopes of having him inherit the throne. Agustin's American mother, Madame de Iturbide (née Alice Green), soon becomes dissatisfied with the arrangement and pleads with Maximilian to return her son. Maximilian has Alice deported, which sets off an international brawl. Maximilian finally concedes as Mexico devolves into bankruptcy and lawlessness and Maximilian's wife, Carlota, becomes increasingly unmoored. Lengthy, expository, meandering and grandiose, Mayo's reanimation of a crucial period in Mexican history should satisfy history buffs and those in the mood for an engaging story brimming with majestic ambition. (May)
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From Booklist

Mayo resurrects a sad story from the footnotes of history and embroiders the few details known about it into a rich historical novel. By the 1860s, Mexico, although independent from Spain, was in political, social, and financial disarray. Taking advantage of the country’s weakness, France’s emperor, Napoléon III, sent an occupying force to Mexico and installed as puppet ruler the easily manipulated Austrian archduke Maximilian, brother of the Austrian emperor. This novel follows Maximilian’s short-lived career as the unfortunate emperor of Mexico, focusing specifically on the half-Mexican, half-American boy the childless emperor and empress adopted as heir. The cast is large, nearly to the point of confusion, and the narrative suffers from overtelling at the expense of showing, but for the most part, Mayo comfortably blends fiction with fact while illuminating a dark corner of North American history. --Brad Hooper

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Unbridled Books; 1 edition (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193296164X
• ISBN-13: 978-1932961645
• Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 6.2 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #755,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been living in and writing about Mexico for many years. Twenty three, last I counted. I'm the author of THE LAST PRINCE OF THE MEXICAN EMPIRE, an historical novel based on the true story, which was named one of the best books of 2009 by Library Journal; also, MIRACULOUS AIR: Journey of a Thousand Miles through Baja California, the Other Mexico; a collection of Mexican literary works in translation with the somewhat misleading title (I mean, it's not a guidebook!), MEXICO: A TRAVELER'S LITERARY COMPANION; and SKY OVER EL NIDO, which won the Flannery O'Connor Award for short fiction. My latest translation is SPIRITIST MANUAL, the secret book originally published in 1911 as MANUAL ESPIRITA, by Francisco I. Madero. www.cmmayo.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Mexico's Legacy May 5, 2009

By S. Agusto-Cox

Format:Hardcover

C.M. Mayo takes an in-depth look into one of Mexico's most turbulent times when its government was plagued by invaders (the Yankees and the French), in-fighting, and disease, like yellow fever.

The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire by C.M. Mayo and published by Unbridled Books is a historical novel that chronicles the short reign (about 3 years) of Maximilian, the undercurrent of political ambition, the clash of cultures, and internal familial machinations.

The novel opens in Washington, D.C., with Alice Green who meets and falls in love with Angelo de Iturbide, a secretary for the Mexican Legation. They marry and move to Mexico, where Alice (known as Alicia in Mexico) gives birth to their son, Agustín de Iturbide y Green. Leaving the Mexican shores, readers will journey across the Atlantic to Trieste, Italy, to meet Maximilian von Habsburg who reluctantly agrees to become the Emperor of Mexico. There are a number of nuances political and otherwise that can get confusing for readers unfamiliar with some of Mexico's history, but these instances are easily overcome as the story unfolds. It is clear from the use of multiple perspectives in this novel that the main character is not Maximilian, Agustin, Alice, Angelo, the Iturbides, the French invaders under Napoleon III, or the Republican upstarts led by Benito Juarez. The main "character" of this novel is Mexico and its future and how that future is shaped by all of these players, their decisions, and in some cases their indecision....

Mayo is an impeccable researcher and craftswoman who fleshes out historical figures in a way that remains true to their historical actions and creates characters who are well-rounded and memorable for readers. Her ability to juggle multiple points of view is unparalleled--from the perspective of Agustin's nanny to Maximilian himself.

One of the most captivating sections of the novel occurs between pages 147-153 in which Maximilian is preoccupied with matters of state and the Iturbide family's sudden breach of a contract with the emperor with regard to their son Agustin. Mayo weaves in Maximilian's frantic thoughts, rants, and arguments with his physical tossing about in his bed, as he mashes the pillow into submission, kicks off the sheets, and sits upright in bed as he determines the best course of action to save face and depict Mexico as a strong nation.

Readers will agree that her prose is poetic.

Overall, this epic novel, The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire, takes on a convoluted period in Mexico's history and the complicated families ruling or eager to rule in the mid-19th Century. Mayo does exceptionally well with multiple points of view, description, and character development to create a vivid dramatization. The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire would make a great book club selection and discussion. Read more ›

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Historical Fiction May 5, 2009

By ReaderRabbit

Format:Hardcover

I thoroughly enjoyed C. M. Mayo's historical fiction The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire. The language was poetic and beautiful and I found myself lingering over this book rather than "gobbling it down." The characters were written with a sense of life and Mayo's style changed accurately with them. The ability to weave a story through the lens of so many social classes and personalities makes it all the more enjoyable to read. I especially enjoyed the differing perspectives on the political situation as it added great background knowledge.
This story follows a strange period of Mexican history, and tells the tale of the political maneuvering which occurred behind the scenes. I was rather unfamiliar with this historical period, but found that Mayo blended the events seamlessly into the story line. Like only the best historical fiction writers can Mayo introduced this period to me and ignited a new interest to learn more!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Emperor Next Door May 8, 2009

By Joseph R. Furshong

Format:Hardcover

We spend many years in history classes and most of us end up retaining the major themes and facts of US history, some European major events and a smattering of the rest of the world's story. Of course the 1860s were tumultuous years in America with the Civil War occupying the main stage for five years. But, how many of us are aware that just across the Rio Grande, Mexico was going through a similar upheaval and that the events are fascinating.

C. M. Mayo relates an utterly absorbing story, putting faces, feelings and emotions into a intense, brief episode in Mexican History, when Archduke Maximilian I of Austria reigned as Emperor of Mexico for three years. This seemingly incongruous situation was the result of the bizarre intersection of European and Mexican politics. A group representing the conversative, monarchical movement in Mexico, took advantage of the chaos following the overthrow of Benito Juarez and with French support, offered the crown of Mexico to Maximilian, the younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria.

The imposition of a European royal court upon the political structure of 19th century Mexico is an interesting story in itself and Mayo tells it well. But, the author narrows her focus further by putting at the center two year old Augustin Iturbide y Green, the "last prince of the Mexican Empire." The childless Maximilian and Carlota decided to identify an "heir presumptive" and in 1865 selected the grandson of Mexico's first "emperor" Augustin Iturbide, as a means to increase acceptance of the struggling monarchy. Young Augustin's parents, Angel Iturbide and his American wife, Alice Green, welcomed the proposed arrangement.... In return for this designation, the new heir was to be raised in luxury, educated in the best schools in Europe and groomed to become Maximilian's successor and restore the fortunes of the Iturbide family. But, when the child is actually cut off from all contact with his parents, and his parents forced to leave Mexico, Alice Green Iturbide begins a relentless campaign to reclaim her son, a quest that takes her to the court of Louis Napoleon and to the Vatican. Her quest, and the efforts of Maximilian and Carlota to retain their tottering throne make a spellbinding conclusion to this truly fresh and well-crafted novel.

Satisfying historic fiction contains the best elements of any good novel: excellent writing, strong plot, conflict, believable characters and an interesting setting. C. M. Mayo has brought all of these elements together around an intriguing and completely mesmerizing story. The impact of the novel was very strong and that has led me to read some background articles, do further research and given me some ideas for my next trip to Mexico. Hat off to Ms Mayo for a job well done. I eagerly look forward to her next effort. Read more ›

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Mexican History From A Different Slant June 28, 2009

By Mark Mellon

Format:Hardcover

For most Americans, drinking Tecate and Corona on Cinco de Mayo is the closest they get to remembering the French 19th-century adventure in Mexico when Napoleon III installed Maximilian as the short-lived, doomed emperor (the holiday celebrates one of the few outright Mexican military victories over the French). Readers curious to learn more about this ill-fated adventure can do so enjoyably by reading C. M. Mayo's novel about a little-known aspect of Maximilian's stay in Mexico: his adoption of the grandson of the first emperor of Mexico, Iturbide.

Mayo has a longstanding interest in Mexico (she has lived there for many years and is a renowned travel writer) and brings a deep fundamental knowledge of the nation, its history, and people to the novel. This is in addition to detailed, original research on her part that would do credit to an authoritative work of history. Fortunately, The Last Prince also works well as a novel. Mayo's characters are both believable and interesting. Her depiction of Maximilian's thought processes illustrate very well how a basically decent and intelligent man could bring himself to commit one blunder after another in both the private and public spheres. Other characters, including entirely fictional ones, are also brought vividly to life.

My only disappointment with the book is that the focus was primarily on domestic matters, the private lives of the characters, rather than on the dramatic events of Maximilian's reign. This is particularly true with respect one of the most tragic and pointless events of the whole sad story, the capture, trial, and execution of Maximilian by the Juaristas. This is only discussed in the book in retrospect.... I understand that the chief theme of the novel was parental love for a child (especially the love of a mother) since The Last Prince deals primarily with the efforts of the Iturbides to recover their son after they were half-bribed, half-forced into handing him over to Maximilian. Still, a little more attention to the military and political aspects of events might have helped to portray the tremendous upheaval caused by Napoleon III's irresponsible meddling in Mexican affairs.

Despite this caveat, I nonetheless recommend this book to anyone looking for a reasonably good historical novel. The Last Prince should be of special interest to anyone interested in 19th Century European history or in Mexico in general. Read more ›